Happiness with a Hint of Sorrow
Natalie, a sweet, plump girl with curly strands escaping her tight braids around her round face, had been hopelessly in love with handsome Daniel from the parallel class since primary school. The trouble was, he barely noticed her.
Daniel was the most attractive boy in schooltall, with smooth olive skin and sharp features, physically mature beyond his years. Every older girl fancied him, even the younger ones. Truth be told, even some of the female teachers couldnt help but admire him.
He did well in school but wasnt a bookworm. Rumours swirled that he planned to study at Oxford or Cambridge after graduation. Daniel just smirked, neither confirming nor denying it. Other whispers claimed he was quite the ladies man, having broken more than a few hearts. And really, what girl could resist him? Natalie certainly couldnt.
By sixth form, shed slimmed down, grown taller, and stopped wearing braids, letting her blonde waves cascade freely. One day, as she walked down the corridor, Daniel actually stopped to look at hertaking in her delicate frame, long legs, and that waterfall of hair. Her heart fluttered wildly: *He noticed me. At last.*
“Hello, Simmons,” Daniel said, his voice oddly rough.
Natalie nodded, smiled, and walked past with her head held high, like a queen. Where had that confidence come from? But no matter how much she fancied him, she refused to swoon. She knew she had plenty of competition.
From that day on, Daniel was restless, deliberately crossing her path, walking her home, inviting her to the cinema. Yet Natalie remained unmoved.
Soon, the whole school could see the way Daniel looked at her. The air crackled when they were near each other.
Everything changed at the school Christmas dance. He asked her to dancetwicethen walked her home. Thats when he confessed hed lost sleep over her, that no one else mattered. Weak with happiness, she finally agreed to that cinema date.
Natalie lived with her strict, undemonstrative mother, a single parent who worked as an accountant. Seeing her daughter blossom, she fretted daily, warning her about maidenly virtue and the risks of young love.
Spring arrived, nature waking from winters grip, and Natalie and Daniels love flared anew. Hidden away, they kissed until dizzy, torturing each other with unfulfilled longing. Then, one reckless day, passion overcame reasonthey gave in. It happened at Natalies flat while her mother was at work. After that, they often surrendered to their sinful desire.
Then school ended. Natalie planned to study teaching in their hometown, while Daniels parents were sending him to London. The thought of parting was unbearable, and he begged her to come with him.
“Natalie, please. My parents will send money, well rent a flat, live together”
She tried persuading her mother, but the woman refused to hear of it. So Natalie made a desperate choice. While her mother was at work, she packed her things, took her documents, half of her mums savings, left a note, and headed to the station. Knowing Daniels parents would see him off, she boarded a different carriage. And just like that, she left for London with the boy she loved, believing in a future of happiness.
They enrolled in different universities but lived together in a rented flat. Natalie, used to fending for herself since childhood, took joy in playing housecooking, cleaning, being the doting partner.
When his parents called, Daniel lied, saying he lived with a mate. Natalie once tried calling her mother, but the woman screamed at her, calling her ungrateful and swearing shed disown her if she came home pregnant. Heartbroken but resolute, Natalie focused on what matteredshe and Daniel were together.
She thought him experienced, trusted his reassurances that things would work out. But stolen moments were one thing; living together was another. Two months in, she realised she was pregnant.
A baby wasnt part of the plan, so she went to the clinic. But the doctor warned her: with her Rh-negative blood, an abortion could leave her infertile.
Daniel took the news stoically. Their love still burned bright; lifes challenges seemed trivial.
“Well manage. Worst case, Ill switch to part-time and get a job,” he said.
“But were not married,” Natalie ventured.
“Who cares? Plenty of people never marry. Natalie, a weddings just money we dont have. Well sort it later.”
So she agreed. He loved herwhat more did she need? Pressuring him would only push him away.
Morning sickness left her gaunt and pale, but Daniel insisted shed never been more beautiful.
At winter break, Natalie didnt go home, remembering her mothers rage. Daniel stayed too, lying to his parents about research at the lab.
Perhaps they missed himor sensed troublebut one day, Daniels parents appeared at their door. The confrontation was brutal. His mother demanded Natalie leave. His father lectured Daniel about throwing his future away.
Then Daniel confessed: Natalie was pregnant.
Chaos erupted. His mother shrieked about terminating the pregnancy, then clutched her chest. His father called an ambulance. Once shed calmed down, she spoke icily:
“Son, listen. Youre youngyour whole lifes ahead. Dont ruin it. That girls from a broken home; who knows what shes been up to? The baby might not even be yours. If you must stay with her, finebut she gets rid of it. Marry her, and youre cut off.”
Daniel gripped Natalies arm and snapped, “Shes keeping the baby. If she leaves, you lose me. Ill drop out and work. Keep your money.”
His mother gasped but waved off another ambulance.
Eventually, his parents relentedon one condition: hed keep studying and not marry her. They hoped the harsh reality of parenthood would drive them apart.
When summer exams came, Natalie gave birth to a healthy boy. Studies were impossible; she took a leave. Then another. The baby was too young for nursery. She found evening work as a cleaner, adding what she could to their funds. Daniel looked after the baby between lectures.
She forgot Daniel was still gorgeous, still turning heads. She assumed they never went out because of the babynot because hed grown ashamed of her.
When little Paul started nursery, Natalie returned to uni. But he was often sick, forcing her to switch to part-time. After Daniel graduated and got a job, she tentatively mentioned marriagetheir deal with his parents had expired.
He gave her a strange look. “Why fixate on a piece of paper? Drop it.”
She hadnt seen his adoring gaze in ages. Of coursetime dulled passion. She knew shed gained weight after the birth, but there was no time for diets.
Then she found lipstick on his shirt. A work party, he said. A man like him would never be tied to one woman. And what right did she have to complain? Hed stood by her against his parents, never pushed for an abortion. He loved her. So she said nothing.
Natalie aced her first summer exam. The sun shone, Paul was at nursery, and she decided to walk home alonea rare treat. Smiling at strangers, she almost forgot her worries.
Then she saw Danielarm in arm with a leggy blonde. He only noticed her when she stepped into their path.
“Natalie?!”
“Dan, whos this?” The blonde eyed her with frosty disdain.
“Im his wife,” Natalie said.
“Wife? Youre not even married,” the girl sneered.
Before Natalie could reply, they walked off. Daniel muttered theyd talk at home.
There, she collapsed in tears. Even when her mother disowned her, even when his parents humiliated herDaniel had stayed. Now hed betrayed her too. She waited, ready to forgive if hed just come back.
He arrived at dawn. Natalie rushed to him, dishevelled and pale. But he said he was done, packed his things, and left. Pride kept her from begging. Once the door shut, she sobbed into a pillow.
She took Paul to nursery, then lay staring at the ceiling until it was time to fetch him.
Her next exam was a disaster.
“Why enrol if you dont want to study?” the professor asked.
Natalie bowed her head. What did it matter? The worst had already happened. Tears hit the desk.
“Something wrong?”
“My husband left me,” she whispered. “Ive got my son, but I cant pay rent.”
“Youre not from London?”
She shook her head.
“Come.” He led her to an empty room. “Wait here. Dont leave.”
When he returned an hour later, shed stopped crying.
“Natalie, I understand hardship. Years ago, my girl left me for my best friend. Dont misunderstandI want to help. Ive a large flat; I live alone. Move in with me. Youll have two rooms. No rent
